Tear tape applicator

ABSTRACT

A tear tape applicator adapted to be mounted on apparatus for making sheet material comprising an elongated body member, a roll of tear tape rotatably mounted at one end of the body member, a guide member mounted on said body member adjacent the other end thereof, a guide roll pivotally mounted adjacent said other end, a roller pivotally mounted on an arm depending from said other end and spring biasing means normally pivoting said arm in a direction to press said roller and said tape against the sheet material.

United States Patent 1 Henc [451 Feb. 20, 1973 [S41 TEAR TAPE APPLICATOR [76] Inventor: Edward V. Henc, Promise Dale Farm, Boot Road, Malvern, RD. 2, Pa. 19355 [22] Filed: April 16, 1970 211 App]. No.: 29,074

[52] 11.8. C1 ..156/577, 156/436 [51] Int. Cl ..B32b 31/08, B32b 31/20 [58] Field of Search ..156/176-179, 436, 156/439, 440, 522-27, 540, 541, 554, 574-77 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,472,129 10/1969 Alexandrov ..156/522 X 3,427,214 2/1969 Voigt ....156/384 X 2,652,166 9/1953 Johnson ..156/522 11/1970 Miklos ..156/577 12/1926 Hardman l56/436 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-James M. Hanley Attorney-Howson and Howson [57] ABSTRACT A tear tape applicator adapted to be mounted on apparatus for making sheet material comprising an elongated body member, a roll of tear tape rotatably mounted at one end of the body member, a guide member mounted on said body member adjacent the other end thereof, a guide roll pivotally mounted adjacent said other end, a roller pivotally mounted on an arm depending from said other end and spring biasing means normally pivoting said arm in a direction to press said roller and said tape against the sheet material.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZOIQH 3,717,540

Q 5 BY EDWARD v. HENC WJ W TEAR TAPE APPLICATOR The present invention relates to improvements in applicators for applying tape to sheet material. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved tear tape applicator which has particular use in the corrugated sheet industry.

In some types of containers, the user gains access to the contents of the container by simply actuating a tear tape. In the process of making the container, the tear tape is usually applied as a strip to the sheet material, for example corrugated board. More specifically, the tear tape applicator is located adjacent the terminal end of the corrugator and applies the tape as continuous sheet material is discharged from the machine. Thereafter, further operations such as slitting, trimming and creasing are performed on the sheet material to form blanks from which the finished container may be formed.

Prior applicators used for the above purposes have not been entirely satisfactory. These applicators are usually mounted on spools on the side of the corrugator or other sheet making apparatus and threaded through a tortuous path to the point of application to the sheet material. In other words, the tracking of the tape is not a straight line path. Thus, since the sheet material moves at a relatively high linear speed, it has been found that present applicators are not able to supply the tape effectively which often results in periodic breakage of the tape. This necessitates shutting down the line and rethreading the tape. Additionally, it has been noted that the tape, which is pressure-sensitive, does not have a uniform, firm tight bond on the sheet material.

The present invention provides an improvement in applicators which overcomes the disadvantages and drawbacks noted above. The applicator is constructed in the manner permitting low friction feed and, as a practical matter, eliminating the danger of breakage irrespective of the linear speed of the sheet material. More specifically, the feed line of the tape is substantially aligned with the direction of movement of the sheet material. Moreover, the applicator has a positive hold-down insuring uniform positive adhesion of the tape to the sheet material. Additionally, the applicator is of comparatively simplified construction so that it may be manufactured easily and economically. In this regard, the design of the applicator is such that the tape is simple to rethread in the unlikely event of breakage.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth in connection with the following drawing, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of a tear tape applicator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the applicator;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of the hold-down arm assembly;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of sheet material with tear tape applied thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated a tear tape applicator in accordance with the present invention which is generally designated by the numeral 10. The applicator comprises an elongated tubular body member 12 made, for example, of aluminum which at one terminal end mounts a bracket 14 having spaced upstanding sidewalls 16 between which a roll of tear tape 18 is rotatably journalled. The tear tape is spirally wound on a core 20 having journals 22 and 24 which engage in recessed slotted openings 26 in the sidewalls of the bracket 14.

The tear tape T from the supply roll passes through an upstanding guide member 30 mounted adjacent the forward end of the body member 12. The guide member is in the form of an eyelet 31 which has a threaded shank 32 suitably secured by conventional means to the body member 12.

The tape T is guided over a front roller 34 which is rotatably journalled on a stub shaft 36 carried by the bifurcated tip 38 of a boom-like extension 40 mounted at the forward terminal end of the body member 12. The roller 34 has a cylindrical center section 42 of a width slightly greater than-the width of the tape and confronting frusto-conical sidewalls 46 and 48 defining a pocket-like guide for the tape.

The tape T is pressed firmly against the sheet material S by means of a flat roller 50 rotatably mounted on the outer end of an arm 52 pivotally secured at its inner end to the shaft 36. The arm is normally biased in a direction to press the tape firmly into engagement with the sheet material S by means of a biasing assembly 54 including a threaded member 56 which mounts a compression spring 58 at its lower terminal end, the compression spring being confined between a bracket 60 and a washer 62, the bracket being secured to the arm 52 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. By this arrangement when the sheet material S is advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, the tape T is pressed by the roller 50 into contact with the sheet material S. The pressure applying relation of the tape T against the sheet S may be selectively varied by adjusting the compression in the spring 58 and this can be done by adjustment of the threaded member 56.

The applicator assembly is adapted to be easily mounted in a preselected location on the apparatus for making the sheet material. To this end an L-shaped bracket is mounted on the lower face of the body member 12 adjacent the forward end and an inverted U-shaped bracket 72 is mounted on the opposite end of the body member 12. By this arrangement, the applicator may be mounted between the rods 74 and 76 which are secured to the frame of the apparatus for making the sheet material. By this arrangement, it is very easy to remove the applicator assembly simply by lifting it off the bar 76 and sliding it back from the bar 74.

I claim:

1. A tear tape applicator adapted to be mounted on apparatus for making sheet material comprising an elongated body member, mounting means rotatably supporting a roll of tear tape at one end of the body member, a guide member mounted on said body member adjacent the other end thereof, a guide roll pivotally mounted adjacent said other end, an arm pivotally mounted from said other end, a roller pivotally mounted on said arm, said tear tape extending from said mounting means through said guide member over said guide roll to said roller which presses thesame against the sheet material, spring biasing means normally pivoting said arm in a direction to press said roller and said tape against the sheet material, bracket mounting means depending from said body member for detachably securing said applicator to the apparatus for making sheet material, and means for selectively varying the compression in said spring biasing means whereby the pressure applying relation of said roller against said sheet material may be varied selectively.

2. A tear tape applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide roll has a cylindrical center section of a width slightly greater than the width of the tape and confronting frusto-conical sidewalls defining a 

1. A tear tape applicator adapted to be mounted on apparatus for making sheet material comprising an elongated body member, mounting means rotatably supporting a roll of tear tape at one end of the body member, a guide member mounted on said body member adjacent the other end thereof, a guide roll pivotally mounted adjacent said other end, an arm pivotally mounted from said other end, a roller pivotally mounted on said arm, said tear tape extending from said mounting means through said guide member over said guide roll to said roller which presses the same against the sheet material, spring biasing means normally pivoting said arm in a direction to press said roller and said tape against the sheet material, bracket mounting means depending from said body member for detachably securing said applicator to the apparatus for making sheet material, and means for selectively varying the cOmpression in said spring biasing means whereby the pressure applying relation of said roller against said sheet material may be varied selectively.
 1. A tear tape applicator adapted to be mounted on apparatus for making sheet material comprising an elongated body member, mounting means rotatably supporting a roll of tear tape at one end of the body member, a guide member mounted on said body member adjacent the other end thereof, a guide roll pivotally mounted adjacent said other end, an arm pivotally mounted from said other end, a roller pivotally mounted on said arm, said tear tape extending from said mounting means through said guide member over said guide roll to said roller which presses the same against the sheet material, spring biasing means normally pivoting said arm in a direction to press said roller and said tape against the sheet material, bracket mounting means depending from said body member for detachably securing said applicator to the apparatus for making sheet material, and means for selectively varying the cOmpression in said spring biasing means whereby the pressure applying relation of said roller against said sheet material may be varied selectively.
 2. A tear tape applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide roll has a cylindrical center section of a width slightly greater than the width of the tape and confronting frusto-conical sidewalls defining a pocket-like guide for the tape.
 3. A tear tape applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide member is in the form of an eyelet through which the tape passes having a threaded shank to receive fastening means to secure the guide member to said body member. 